THE DUSTY SPRINGFIELD OF IT ALL

Disclaimer: there are Eras tour spoilers!

I’ve been thinking about Dusty since hearing “You Don’t Own Me” prior to Eras tour starting, so last night I took a gummy and proceeded to watch every single one of her music videos I could find. And holy shit are there some interesting visual parallels…

Even though I’m sure most of you don’t need an introduction to Dusty, I wanted to start with a summary for those who might not be as well-acquainted:

Dusty’s Career & Personal Life:

• Born on April 16, 1939 in West Hampstead, London, Dusty (birth name Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien) was known for her distinctive emotional and husky voice. “The White Queen of Soul” was one of the leading blue-eyed soul and pop singers of the 1960s.

• She joined “The Lana Sisters” in 1958, but later left to form a folk band called “The Springfields” with her brother, Tom (birth name Dionysius PA O’Brien), and Tim Feild. The band name origin: they were rehearsing in field in Somerset in the spring.

• In 1963 she went solo and adapted the name Dusty (reportedly due to her playing football with boys in the street and other “tomboy” things). She went on to record albums in numerous genres, including rock, pop, folk, and country, and had massive international hits, including: ‘I Only Want to Be with You’, ‘You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’ and ‘Son of a Preacher Man.’

• Dusty was never reported to be in a heterosexual relationship, and the question of her sexual orientation was raised by the press throughout her life.

• In 1970, she told a British newspaper “Many other people say I’m bent, and I’ve heard it so many times that I’ve almost learned to accept it. I know I’m perfectly as capable of being swayed by a girl as by a boy. More and more people feel that way and I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”

• She added to the Los Angeles Free Press three years later: “I mean, people say that I’m gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay.

• “I’m not anything,” I’m just… People are people… I basically want to be straight… I go from men to women; I don’t give a s**t.”

• From 1966 to the early 1970s, she lived in a domestic partnership with singer/songwriter Norma Tanega.

• Throughout the 70s and early 80s, her alcoholism and drug addiction affected her musical career — she was hospitalized several times for self-harm, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 1969’s Son of a Preacher Man would be her last big hit until…

• …1989. In February, 1989, “Nothing Has Been Proved” was released, followed by “In Private” in November. Both singles charted in the UK top 20, officially launching her “comeback” career. They were included on her THIRTEENTH studio album titled: REPUTATION.

• Some of Springfield’s biographers and journalists have speculated that she had two personalities: shy, quiet Mary O’Brien, and the public face she had created as Dusty Springfield. An editorial review at Publishers Weekly of Valentine and Wickham’s 2001 biography, Dancing with Demons, finds that “the confidence [Springfield] exuded on vinyl was a façade masking severe insecurities, addictions to drink and drugs, bouts of self-harm and fear of losing her career if exposed as a lesbian”.

• In her early career, much of her odd behaviour was seen as more or less in fun, described as a “wicked” sense of humour, including her food fights (you need to calm down video??) and hurling crockery down stairs. Springfield had a great love for animals, particularly cats, and became an advocate for animal protection groups. She enjoyed reading maps and would intentionally get lost to navigate her way out.

• She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, and passed away in 1999.

• Country music singer Shelby Lynne recorded a tribute album in 2008 called “Just a Little Lovin'”

Visual References/Parallels

There’s a lot. I’m totally aware a lot of this is probably reaching, but I’m starved for theories. Forgive me!

Lightbulbs

In Dusty’s “How am I Supposed to Know” video, she uses lightbulbs that remind me of the lightbulbs in the Karma MV:

And they’re seen again in Dusty’s “Reputation” video:

Clocks

Dusty’s 1971’s “I Close my eyes and count to 10” video has a lot to unpack and I’m honestly still not sure what everything means, but the clocks are very interesting. Dusty stands in the center of a sun-dial or clock face (it’s a clock; she’s a clock). Directly behind her, in what I assume is the 12:00 position, stands a grandfather clock that reads 10:00pm. The video ends with a close up on the clock face, very similar to Karma’s coffee clock ending. (The floor clock almost resembles black and white piano keys, too, imo):

More visuals of the clock — with a flame (midnights cover ish?) and the moon at midnight:

While we’re on the subject of clocks, I notice the lyric video for Nothing New TV features the same hourglass as Karma (similar to the bejeweled pocket watch doubling as Ice Spice’s oyster):

Dazzle Camouflage

Dusty’s “Reputation” video features black and white dazzle camouflage, very similar to the Eras tour visuals for Mastermind and Taylor’s 10/24/22 Jimmy Fallon appearance (I prefer hiding in plain sight):

Reputation

Dusty’s Reputation also includes a tabloid/newspaper scene similar to the Rep album cover

A phone similar to Taylor’s Reputation phone, as well as a file folder labeled “DESTROY” being shredded (“Burn all the files, desert all your past lives)

And an airplane:

Closeting/Cages

This scene in Dusty’s Reputation is reminiscent of the Lavender Haze eras tour visuals, and the AT&T commercial:

And Dusty appears to be in a glass box or cage in “Spooky” similar to Willow/LWYMMD eras visuals:

Additional Dusty cage/box references:

Arches & Pillars

I’ve noticed Taylor uses arches and pillars a lot — LWYMMD, Karma, Bejeweled, even the Eras tour opening. So does Dusty.

• “Arches are structures of deep resonance. They embody and symbolize strength and support. The arch is basically a male motif. In mythology, it represents the door between time and space through which one passes to enter another world. The arch signifies the opening of new perspectives and the ability. to see beyond the present. It is also used in some cultures as a symbol of renewal, representing a rite of passage where one leaves the old behind to embrace the new.”

• “Pillars are often used to symbolize strength, stability, and support. They’re also believed to embody the balance between opposite forces, such as light and darkness or strength and beauty.”

Again, arches and pillars are seen in LWYMMD, and I noticed the throne looks very similar to a chair Dusty sits crosslegged in:

Dusty also has a few other items on her “clock” surrounding her, including an angel/cherub, candles/candelabra, what looks like a teapot, an arch/pillars, scales of justice, chandelier, and a book?

Midnights Mayhem

Dusty’s “in private” (very wlw song/video) reminded me of midnights mayhem with me. The curtain slightly open, then revealing women who talk on a similar phone, one even UPSIDE DOWN?

Lyrics to “In Private”

Take your time

And tell me

Where you lie

I realize

That we’ve been found out

This time

We should stay

Together

If we can

But what you planned

Means there’s a difference

Between

What you’re gonna say

In private

You still want my love

We’re in this together

And what you’re gonna do

In public

Say you were never in love

That you can remember

So discreet (she’s so discreet)

I never

Tried to meet

Your friends or

Interfere

I took a back seat

Between

Serpentine Dance

Dusty’s “Arrested by You” features a serpentine dance like the one Taylor dedicated to Loie Fuller during Dress on Rep tour, and bonus! Dusty has a pendulum swinging back and forth during the dress scene in her video:

And idk, these just look like Taylor:

The vigilante shit chairs, the folklore woods, the bewjewled, showgirl costumes?

And I thought the hair/earrings, outfits were kinda similar here:

Food Fight

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

A major, big-budget biopic about Dusty Springfield was announced in 2018, and they even teased the cast. It was going to be directed by Phyllis Nagy, and starring Gemma Arterton.

BUT on November 18, 2022, the film was mysteriously scrapped:

“Sadly, we just couldn’t get Dusty off the ground, despite huge efforts over a long period of time, which was very disappointing for us and Phyllis.

“We have no plans to continue with the film.”

It’s unusual for films to be cancelled once the casting details have been announced.

…21 days later on December 9, 2022, it was announced that Taylor “will be making her feature directorial debut with Searchlight Pictures. The singer, songwriter and director has written an original script, which will be produced by the Oscar-winning studio behind “Nomadland” and “The Shape of Water.” Other key details, like a plot and casting, are being kept under wraps until a later date.”

Could this be Taylor’s film project? A Dusty Springfield biopic?